Stand Up, Sit Down

Grade Level: 
7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
Keywords: 
Diversity
Inclusion
YGFGinclusion
Youth Advisory Committee
Youth Club
In this activity participants get to know one another and discover their commonalities and differences.

What similarities do I have with others? What differences do I have with others? Why are both important?

Time:

You decide!  Depends on the number of questions asked. 

Materials: 

  • None 

Activity:

  1. Instruct participants to stand up each time something stated during the activity applies to them, beginning with these applicable questions: 
    • Over summer break, did you: Work part time? Visit the state fair? Volunteer? Start a project? Travel?
    • On the first day of school, did you: Get lost going to different classes? Speak to the principal? Tell your parents school was “Great!”? Eat pizza? Meet a new friend? Ask someone for a date, or get asked out? 
    • Do you identify as [name racial/ethnic identities and mixed race]? He/him, she/her, or they/their? Vegetarian?
    • Invite youth to make other relevant statements and questions.

Reflection

  • Which questions did you have in common with others in the group?
  • What did you learn about your peers?
  • What did you learn about yourself?

Variations

  • To enhance this activity, ask participants to “Stand Up or Move Over.” Youth will stand up when a questions applies to them and move over when a question does not apply. This is good activity to use after a break or meal and works best when youth are seated in a row or circle of chairs.  
  • Describe the activity and ask participants to think of the questions and allow the opportunity for each participant to ask a question to the group.